Rein-holder.



PATENTBD OUT. 24, 1905.

0. B. READ.

REIN HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1, 1904.

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ORRIN 13. READ, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

IREIIN- HOLDIEH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed December 1, 1904. Serial No. 235,115.

To a whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ORRIN B. READ, acitizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in rein holders or supports of that class which are particularly adapted for use upon the neck band or strap of what is known as a breastcollar, one of the devices being placed upon each side near the top of the neck-strap for the purpose of holding the reins and preventing them from falling down and being caught over the ends of the thills or shafts and from becoming squeezed or held between the shafts and breast-collar.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical, ornamental, and comparatively inexpensive rein-supporting device of this character which will permit of the ready insertion or removal of the reins, but will effectively hold them against accidental or casual displacement.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View showing the application of my improved rein holder or support to the necks'trap of a breast-collar. Fig. 2 is a front or plan view of the rein-holder on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same partly in section, and Fig. 4: is an end view of the holder or support.

Referring to the drawings by characters, 1 denotes my improved rein-holder, which, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is applied to the neck strap or band N of the usual breast-collar B. The rein holder or support 1 comprises a body portion 2, whichis narrow at its center, as shown at 3, and which terminates in enlarged ends i, which are substantially circular in form. Said body portion 2 is slightly curved in a longitudinal direction to conform to the curvature of the neck of a horse and has a smooth flat under side which is adapted to bear against the outer face of the neck-strap N. The narrow portion 3 of the body 2 is substantially semicircular in cross-section, but its rounded enlarged ends 4 have a flat upper surface, as shown at 5. Formed in said ends4 are screw-threaded openings or recesses 6 for the purpose of receiving the threaded ends of attaching-screws 7, which are passed through openings formed in the neck-strap N, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Projecting outwardly or upwardly and inwardly from one side of the upper end 4 of the body 2 is an arm 8, which terminates in a substantially spherical head or enlargement 9, and projecting outwardly and upwardly from the opposite side of the lower end 40f the body 2 is an arm 10, which terminates in asubstantially spherical head or enlargement 11. I wish it to be understood that the arms in my construction of rein-holder project from the front face of the base-piece in a curved and also in a vertical position from diagonally opposite corners of said base and extend parallel to each other throughout their length in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the body 2, so thatthe outer face of the holder or device presents a practically smooth and unbroken surface. The lower arm 10 is of greater length than the upper arm 8, the latter extending, preferably, one-third of the length of the body 2 and the former, 10,extending two-thirds of said length. The heads or enlargement 9 and 11 are separated or spaced from each other, as shown at 12, to permit of the removal and insertion of the rein, and they overlap each other in the same plane, which plane is parallel to that of the body 2. The head or enlargement 11 upon the long lower arm 10 is of greater size than the said head or enlargement 9 upon the short upper arm 8, so that the opening or space 12 between the two heads or enlargements will be guarded to prevent the rein from becoming casually or accidentally displaced. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings that when the rein is in the holder or support, as indicated by the dotted lines at R. it will be supported by the lower arm 10 and that as said rein is moved upwardly in the holder the curvature of the inner face of the head 11 will direct or throw the rein inwardly away from the smaller head 9, so that the rein will not be engaged therewith and will not slip out through the opening 12.

The use and advantages of the rein-holder will be readily seen upon reference to the drawings. In inserting one of the reins in the holder the former is twisted or turned vertically, so that it maybe slipped edgewise through the opening 12, and is then turned intofiat position. (Shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.) It will be seen that, owing to the fact that the arms extend parallel throughout their entire length and lie in the same plane and also to the fact that the heads or enlargements upon their ends overlap each other and are shaped as shown, it will be practically impossible for the reins to become casually or accidentally displaced from the holder when they are in use. By providing the spherical ends upon the said arm and having them overlap each other in the same plane the opening 12 may be made larger than would be possible if said heads were omitted and at the same time properly guard the said 'opening. Owing to the arms extending parallel to each other throughout their entire length and lying in the same plane, so that the outer surface or contour of the holder is practically smooth and unbroken, it will be seen that there will be no possible chance for a blanket or other covering thrown over the animal to become caught or engaged by said arms and possibly torn in its removal. The said spherical heads or enlargements will soasss also lessen the liability of the holder wearing a hole through the blanket.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of-construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rein-holder comprising a rectangular base portion havings arms projecting therefrom in a curved and also in a vertical position from diagonal opposite corners of said base so as to form an intervening space between the same. one of said arms being of a greater length than the other, and each of said arms having on their terminals approximately spherical heads of difierent sizes, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ORRIN B. READ.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. GRAYMER, JOHN P. CURLEY. 

